For the first time ever, the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Outstanding Performer of the Year Award will be given to two people, and in keeping with a year for strong female roles, it will go to two of the season’s leading ladies: Brie Larson (“Room“) and Saoirse Ronan (“Brooklyn“).
“This is an incredible year for emerging talent to take center stage and showcase their abilities,” festival director Roger Durling said. “We’ve long been following the careers of Brie and Saoirse and their recent roles as empowered young women transcend time, place and circumstance.”
The awards will be presented on Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara.
Previous recipients of the outstanding performer of the year honor include Steve Carell (“Foxcatcher”), Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”), Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver Linings Playbook”), Viola Davis (“The Help”), James Franco (“127 Hours”), Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”), Penélope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), Angelina Jolie (“A Mighty Heart”), Helen Mirren (“The Queen”), Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”), Kate Winslet (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) and Charlize Theron (“Monster”).
All but one of those received an Oscar nomination. Six won.
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Kudos previously announced by the festival this year include the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film to “Youth” star Jane Fonda, the Maltin Modern Master Award for “Black Mass” star Johnny Depp, the America Riviera Award for “Spotlight’s” Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams and the Virtusos Award for Elizabeth Banks (“Love & Mercy”), Paul Dano (“Youth,” “Love & Mercy”), Joel Edgerton (“Black Mass”) and Jacob Tremblay (“Room”).
The 31st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival runs Feb. 3 – 13, 2016.
